The world we live in has justified its secular agenda by claiming a political requirement of separation. It may surprise us to learn that this is a consequence of sin. The division between the sacred and the secular has propagated an eternal two party system; and that system isn’t republican or democrat.
Preliminaries: The Bible is principally political
- As a human – you are a citizen in God’s creation
- As a Christian – you are an alien citizen on the earth
The Kingdom of Man – Core values of the serpent’s offspring:
- A rejection of divine authority and objective truth
- A self-defining of the good
- Acceptance of deceptive practices
- Equity of power, determined by privilege
- Self-determination; self-convincing; self-justification
- A societal responsibility for salvation
- Failure to accept personal responsibility with a predisposition to blame others
The Kingdom of God – Core values of a citizen of heaven:
- Submission to Jesus as the Truth
- Adoption of God’s definition of the good
- Rejection and repentance from deception
- Charity by the free self-sacrifice of the privileged
- Embracing of God-defined roles, rules, and responsibilities
- Full surrender to Christ alone for salvation
- The worship of the Savior
Conclusions: There are only 2 Kingdoms &…
- Where the Kingdom of Man advances, God will bring judgment
Application:
- Grieve the separation of the sacred and the secular as the judgment of God
- Before you pursue political activism, allow that grief to bring evaluation over any of your own divisions between sacred and secular
Philippians 3:20
“But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ.”
Matthew 5:14-16
“You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.”
Acts 5:1-3
“Now a man named Ananias, together with his wife Sapphira, also sold a piece of property. With his wife’s full knowledge he kept back part of the money for himself, but brought the rest and put it at the apostles’ feet. Then Peter said, “Ananias, how is it that Satan has so filled your heart that you have lied to the Holy Spirit and have kept for yourself some of the money you received for the land?”
Matthew 16:23
“But he turned and said to Peter, “Get behind me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to me, because you are not setting your mind on God’s interests, but on man’s.”
John 8:44
“You belong to your father, the devil, and you want to carry out your father’s desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, not holding to the truth, for there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies.”
Matthew 4:8-9
“Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their splendor. “All this I will give you,” he said, “if you will bow down and worship me.”
Isaiah 14:12-14
“How you have fallen from heaven, You star of the morning, son of the dawn! You have been cut down to the earth, You who defeated the nations! But you said in your heart, ‘I will ascend to heaven; I will raise my throne above the stars of God, And I will sit on the mount of assembly In the recesses of the north. I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will make myself like the Most High.'”